Cinching tool

ABSTRACT

The invention is a cinching tool. The cinching tool is a generally flat, substantially two-dimensional and geometrically shaped to accommodate wear underneath clothing, and has a generally rigid perimeter, a generally flexible interior portion having a hole in its center. The hole is adapted to accept cloth pulled therethrough and then hold it tightly until removed by hand.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This Utility patent application claims priority from pending U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/412,335 filed on Oct. 25, 2017entitled Fabric Cincher and Decorator, to common inventor Aristizabal.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention generally relates to clothing accessories, and moreparticularly to clothing accessories that enhance the shape of theperson wearing clothing.

Problem Statement and History Interpretation Considerations

This section describes technical field in detail and discusses problemsencountered in the technical field. Therefore, statements in the sectionare not to be construed as prior art.

Discussion of History of the Problem

For many persons—particularly women—garments such as dresses, tunics, orshirts do not fit the wearer “snugly.” To overcome this problem, somewomen use “dress cinchers” comprised of two clips connected by a chain,rope or other means. These items are almost always worn on the outsideof a garment, and “pull” two sides of the garment together.

However, these existing dress cinchers suffer from disadvantages. Forexample, if either clip slips or fails, then the garment falls about itsuser (and dangles embarrassingly behind the wearer). Additionally, whenon the market, several different sizes/lengths of chains or ropes orother material must be provided to accommodate women of differing sizes.

Accordingly, what is needed is a tool that accommodates women ofdifferent sizes, and which cinches fabric more reliably than existingdress-cinches. The present invention provides such a cinching tool.

SUMMARY

The invention is a cinching tool. The cinching tool is a generally flat,substantially two-dimensional and geometrically shaped to accommodatewear underneath clothing, and has a generally rigid perimeter, agenerally flexible interior portion having a hole in its center. Thehole is adapted to accept cloth pulled therethrough and then hold ittightly until removed by hand.

The cinching tool is geometrically shaped, and so may be substantiallyround, triangular or square. In each case the perimeter is substantiallyshaped like the tool, and the interior portion is preferably shapedsubstantially like the perimeter. Additionally, an decorative edge maybe added to the exterior of the perimeter to make the cinching tool moreattractive.

The interior portion may have one, two, or more slits traversingsubstantially a diameter of the interior portion. The interior portionpreferably comprises an elastomer and has elasticproperties—particularly that of grabbing. Accordingly, the interiorportion preferably comprises a plurality of concentric ribs to hold fastto any fabric pulled therethrough, and the perimeter may also have ribsto minimize slippage of fabric about the cinching tool.

In an alternative embodiment, the inventive cinching tool comprises aferris-based metal plate, such as a washer or a ring, coupled to (ormaintained within) the perimeter. Accordingly, an ornamental buttonhaving a magnet or magnetically-induced material, may couple to thecinching tool through the exterior of clothing being cinched.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various aspects of the invention and its embodiment are betterunderstood by referring to the following detailed description. Tounderstand the invention, the detailed description should be read inconjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a head-on view of the cinching tool;

FIG. 1A illustrates a cut-view of the cinching tool taken along cut-lineA-A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 1B illustrates a cut-view of the cinching tool taken along cut-lineB-B of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side-cut view of an alternative embodiment of thecinching tool of FIG. 1 taken along cut-line A-A, having a full-view ofa decorative button thereon; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a dress cinched up with the cinching tool, having avisible, decorative and ornamental button magnetically coupled theretoand worn on the outside of the dress.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT InterpretationConsiderations

While reading this section (An Exemplary Embodiment, which describes theexemplary embodiment of the best mode of the invention, hereinafterreferred to as “exemplary embodiment”), one should consider theexemplary embodiment as the best mode for practicing the inventionduring filing of the patent in accordance with the inventor's belief. Asa person with ordinary skills in the art may recognize substantiallyequivalent structures or substantially equivalent acts to achieve thesame results in the same manner, or in a dissimilar manner, theexemplary embodiment should not be interpreted as limiting the inventionto one embodiment.

The discussion of a species (or a specific item) invokes the genus (theclass of items) to which the species belongs as well as related speciesin this genus. Similarly, the recitation of a genus invokes the speciesknown in the art. Furthermore, as technology develops, numerousadditional alternatives to achieve an aspect of the invention may arise.Such advances are incorporated within their respective genus and shouldbe recognized as being functionally equivalent or structurallyequivalent to the aspect shown or described.

A function or an act should be interpreted as incorporating all modes ofperforming the function or act, unless otherwise explicitly stated. Forinstance, sheet drying may be performed through dry or wet heatapplication, or by using microwaves. Therefore, the use of the word“paper drying” invokes “dry heating” or “wet heating” and all othermodes of this word and similar words such as “pressure heating”.

Unless explicitly stated otherwise, conjunctive words (such as “or”,“and”, “including”, or “comprising”) should be interpreted in theinclusive and not the exclusive sense.

As will be understood by those of the ordinary skill in the art, variousstructures and devices are depicted in the block diagram to not obscurethe invention. In the following discussion, acts with similar names areperformed in similar manners, unless otherwise stated.

The foregoing discussions and definitions are provided for clarificationpurposes and are not limiting. Words and phrases are to be accordedtheir ordinary, plain meaning, unless indicated otherwise.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS, A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Simultaneous reference is made herein to FIGS. 1, 1A, and 1B. FIG. 1illustrates a head-on view of the cinching tool. FIG. 1A illustrates acut-view of the cinching tool taken along cut-line A-A of FIG. 1. And,FIG. 1B illustrates a cut-view of the cinching tool taken along cut-lineB-B of FIG. 1.

The invention is a cinching tool 100. The cinching tool is generallydefinable as a generally flat, substantially two-dimensionalgeometrically shaped tool portion and accompanying ornamentation. Thetool portion is generally definable as a perimeter 110, and an interiorportion 120. The tool portion may take any geometric shape, such as acircle, triangle, or rectangle, for example. However, as shown in FIG. 1the tool portion is preferably circular. In an alternative embodiment,the perimeter 110 of the tool portion has a decorative edge 150integrally formed with or coupled about the perimeter 110.

The perimeter 110 is preferably rigid—meaning more rigid than theinterior portion 120. The rigidness may be achieved by the thickness ofthe material of which is constructed (more on that shortly), via areinforcement such as a metallic or plastic ring, or by being made of amaterial that is by its nature generally more rigid than the interiorportion 120. Accordingly, the perimeter may be plastic, an elastomer,silicon, metallic, leather, or composite material, for example, so longas it supports a function of maintaining a structural frame for theinterior portion 120.

As shown in greater detail in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the perimeter 110 maycomprise a plurality of ribs 112, 114 (also called “teeth”), thatprevent the changing tool from moving or traveling in the clothing beingworn by a user. As shown in FIGS. 1, 1A and 1B, the ribs are preferablyconcentric within a circumference of the perimeter 110. Also preferableis that the perimeter 110 having ribs 112, 114 is an elastomer, thereby‘gripping’ the clothing being worn by a user (and/or the user). As isviewable in FIG. 1B, preferably the perimeter 110 and the decorativeedge 150 are integral.

As stated, the tool portion also comprises a generally flexible interiorportion 120. The interior portion 120 has a hole substantially centeredtherein defined by a preferably interior edge 130 of the interiorportion 120. Although the hole created by the interior edge 130 ispreferably circular, its shape is not limited to circular holes and maytake any shape that accepts fabric (including plastics and syntheticmaterials), as the hole is adapted to accept cloth 220 (shown in FIG. 2)pulled therethrough.

To hold fabric therein, the interior portion 120 has a diameter “d” andalso has preferably two slits 122, 124 traversing substantially thediameter of the interior portion 120. However, of course the number ofslits in any embodiment will be determined by the needs of thatparticular cinching tool, and so a cinching tool according to theteachings of the invention may have one or more slits.

The interior portion 120 may also comprise a plurality of ribs. FIGS. 1,1A, and 1B together detail the form of interior portion ribs 126, 127,128, and 129 each being concentric with each other as well as theperimeter 110, and each being definable and separated by a rut(unnumbered) in-between. Interior portion rib 129 is shown integrallyformed with the interior edge 130, which while not required to practicethe invention, is preferred.

As the interior portion 120 is flexible, and in particular flexiblerelative to the perimeter 110, the interior portion 120 is preferably ofa lesser thickness than the perimeter 110 and is preferably made of amaterial that naturally grabs fabric, such as a generally elasticmaterial such as elastomer, silicon, plastic, leather, or other materialhaving elastic properties (natural or synthetic material). Preferably,the interior portion 120 comprises an elastomer.

As shown in simultaneous reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, in analternative embodiment, the invention is adapted to couple to anornamental button. FIG. 2 illustrates a side-cut view of an alternativeembodiment of the cinching tool alone of FIG. 1 taken along cut-lineA-A, having an uncut full-view of a decorative button thereon. FIG. 3illustrates a dress cinched up with the cinching tool, having a visible,decorative and ornamental button magnetically coupled thereto and wornon the outside of the dress.

As is seen in FIG. 2, the perimeter 110 has a ferris-based metal(ferris-metalic) plate 230 coupled thereto. The plate 230 is preferablysubstantially washer-shaped to maximize magnetic coupling (describedmomentarily), as well as to maximize the adhesive force achieved with anadhesive, such as glue for example, used to couple/adhese the plate 230to the perimeter 110. Preferably, the plate 230 is shaped substantiallysimilarly to a magnetic portion 214 (described below).

In yet another embodiment (not shown, but readily understood by those ofordinarily skill in the mechanical arts upon reading this disclosure),the perimeter 110 may be substantially definable as a boot, whereby theboot has an interior portion adapted to accept a ring made offerris-metallic/magnetic material.

Returning again to FIG. 2, an alternative embodiment may incorporate anornamental magnetically-induced button 210, which can be magneticallycoupled to the plate 230. More particularly, the button 210 may comprisea plurality of portions, such as an ornamental portion 212 and amagnetic portion 214 rigidly coupled thereto. The magnetic portion 214is preferably washer-shaped and is either a magnetic material, or amaterial that is temporarily magnetized.

From FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, it is seen that the inventive cinching tool 100is used by pushing, pulling, or poking a fabric 220 through the interiorportion 120 of the cinching tool 100. After the fabric 220 is pushed,pulled or poked through the cinching tool 100, the fabric is held inplace by the flexible and/or elastic properties of the interior portion,as well as the adhesive properties of the ribs 126-129 on the interiorportion 120, and is also held in place by the ribs 112, 114 of theperimeter 110. Further, in an alternative embodiment, the ‘look’ of theclothing worn by a user may be enhanced by the use of an ornamentalbutton 210 that is magnetically coupled to the cinching tool 100.

Of course, as is readily understood by those of ordinary skill in theclothing arts, the cinching tool 100 may be crafted in any size, and assuch has applicability to all-kinds of fabric cinching in applicationsbeyond clothing, and may be used to quickly seal bags, or provideadornments to fabrics of all types and thicknesses.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with specificillustrative embodiments, it is not intended that the invention belimited to those illustrative embodiments. Those skilled in the art willrecognize that variations and modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is intended toinclude within the invention, all such variations and departures thatfall within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

I claim:
 1. A cinching tool, comprising: a generally flat, substantiallytwo-dimensional geometrically shaped tool portion; the tool portioncomprising a generally rigid perimeter, a generally flexible interiorportion, the interior portion having a hole substantially centeredtherein; and the hole adapted to accept cloth pulled therethrough. 2.The cinching tool of claim 1 wherein the tool portion is substantiallyround.
 3. The cinching tool of claim 1 wherein the tool portion issubstantially triangular.
 4. The cinching tool of claim 1 wherein theinterior portion has a diameter, and at least one slit traversingsubstantially the diameter of the interior portion.
 5. The cinching toolof claim 2 wherein the interior portion is substantially round, has adiameter, and comprises at least two slits traversing substantially thediameter of the interior portion.
 6. The cinching tool of claim 5wherein the perimeter is substantially round.
 7. The cinching tool ofclaim 6 wherein the interior portion comprises a plurality of ribs. 8.The cinching tool of claim 7 wherein the perimeter comprises a pluralityof ribs.
 9. The cinching tool of claim 8 wherein the cinching toolcomprises an elastic material or elastomer.
 10. The cinching tool ofclaim 9 wherein the elastic material is selected from one of: silicone,rubber, plastic, or leather.
 11. The cinching tool of claim 1 furthercomprising a ferris-based metal plate coupled to the perimeter.
 12. Thecinching tool of claim 11 wherein the metal plate is substantiallywasher-shaped.
 13. The cinching tool of claim 11 wherein the metal plateis adhesed to the perimeter.
 14. The cinching tool of claim 1 whereinthe perimeter is substantially definable as a boot, the boot having aninterior portion adapted to accept a ring.
 15. The cinching tool ofclaim 14 wherein the perimeter comprises a ferris-metallic ring therein.16. The cinching tool of claim 13 further comprising amagnetically-induced button magnetically coupled to the plate.
 17. Thecinching tool of claim 15 further comprising a magnetically-inducedbutton magnetically coupled to the ferris-metallic ring.
 18. A cinchingtool, comprising: a generally flat, substantially two-dimensionalgeometrically shaped tool portion, the tool portion comprising agenerally circular rigid perimeter; a generally circular and flexibleinterior portion comprising an elastomer, the interior portionintegrally coupled within the perimeter; the interior portion having afirst slit and a second slit, the first slit substantially perpendicularto the second slit and each slit substantially traversing the diameterof the interior portion; the interior portion formed to comprise aplurality of concentric ribs; a hole substantially centered therein atthe intersection of the first slit and the second slit, the hole adaptedto have cloth pulled therethrough and held by at least one of theconcentric ribs; and a ferris-metallic ring coupled to the perimeter.19. The cinching tool of claim 18 further comprising a buttonmagnetically coupled to the ferris-metallic ring, the button comprisinga first ornamental portion, and a magnetic portion, the magnetic portionrigidly coupled to the ornamental portion.
 20. The cinching tool ofclaim 18 further comprising a decorative edge coupled to the exterior ofthe perimeter.